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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. drill — a practice
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. lean — to bend
  7. drill — the tool
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. drill — army training
  10. scale — size or range
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. scale — in music
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. track — to keep track
  18. track — a song
  19. track — a path
  20. lean — thin
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. leaves — to go away

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com